About Stachytarpheta mutabilis (Jacq.) Vahl
Stachytarpheta mutabilis (Jacq.) Vahl is a perennial herb or subshrub that usually grows 10 to 20 centimeters tall, and can sometimes reach half a meter in height. It has hairy stems with oppositely arranged leaves. Its leaf blades are leathery in texture, shaped oblong or lance-shaped, and can grow up to 12 centimeters long. The inflorescence is a narrow spike that reaches up to 60 centimeters long. Flowers occur in many shades of red, pink, or violet, with the violet coloration characteristic of Stachytarpheta mutabilis var. violacea. This species sometimes escapes cultivation and becomes naturalized in the wild. It can act as a weed, growing in disturbed habitats including pastures and roadsides. It is an introduced invasive species in Fiji, Hawaii, Queensland, and Singapore. The flowers of this plant are attractive to a wide variety of insects. Two butterfly species, Ornithoptera priamus poseidon and Papilio ulysses, as well as the bee Amegilla sapiens, have been observed foraging on this plant. Parts of the plant contain the iridoid glycoside ipolamiide, which works to inhibit insect predation on the plant.
